Crusader (A Novel of WWII Tank Warfare) by Jack Murray (important of reading books .TXT) 📗

At this point Stan felt a gentle nudge in his ribs from Kate. Herealised he was becoming more impassioned than he’d intended. He smiledsheepishly. Henry shook his head and smiled also.

‘I think I know enough of your son to say he’ll win them round. Hehas many admirable qualities. They both have. Any family would be proud ofthem.’

Kate beamed with pride. She couldn’t have agreed with thisassessment more. Stan nodded to Henry in gratitude.

‘Oh sir, you’ll be interested in one other piece of news fromDanny. Not one you’ll be surprised by, I’ll warrant.’

‘Oh, what’s that?’ asked Henry, genuinely curious.

‘There’s a captain there who Danny thinks you might know. I gatherhe’s not thought of too highly by then men, though.’

‘Really who?’

Stan told him.

Henry sat back in his chair and whistled. This was not good news.He said, almost to himself, ‘I’d wondered where he would end up.’

Sarah looked confused, ‘Who did you say?’

Her father turned to her. He seemed troubled by the news. Finally,he smiled to her and said, ‘Captain Edmund Aston. Kit’s brother.’

 6

Cairo, Egypt, September 1941

Captain Edmund Aston rose from the bed and dressed. He looked downat the woman lying asleep and his lips curled into a smile. It was all so easy.Always had been. While the cat’s away, he murmured softly to himself. The womanbegan to stir. Finally, she opened her eyes and looked up at Aston.

He was searching for his shirt when he turned around to face her.Such good looks, but she could not ignore the cruelty of the smile. Or was itcontempt? She could hardly blame Aston because what it said about her wascertainly no better. While she entertained this man in her house, a good manwas at the front.

Good, but oh so dull.

Deadly, deadly dull. He’d kept her in a certain style. In returnshe’d given him two sons, both at Harrow. If not a dutiful wife, she’dcertainly been a supportive one. At least one of his promotions had been earnedthrough her thankfully unappreciated and uncommon creativity in managing hiscareer. This resulted in him spending too much time away from home. Who couldblame her if she sought company? This was not so often as to raise suspicion,but just enough to keep her feeling young and beautiful.

Edmund Aston was the latest in a line of suitors who thought theywere using her. Of course, she accepted, they were using her. This could workboth ways. He was magnificent, though. A cad. A bounder. Whatever you wanted tocall him, it was probably true and worse. But, my word, she thought, he wasbeautiful. A Greek god but certainly no angel. Nothing so boring. He knewsecrets about her that would have induced a coronary in her husband.

‘Must you go?’ she asked, hoping the answer would be yes.

‘Yes, must dash,’ replied Aston curtly. ‘I have a polo match atthe Gezira. Are you coming?’

The answer to that question was a resounding no, thought thewoman. You’re an amazing lover but I’m tired of you. Just leave now.

‘Do you mind if I don’t, darling? I don’t want people to talk.’

‘Do you really care what people think, Sandra?’

Clearly you don’t, you bastard, thought Sandra.

‘As a matter of fact, Edmund, I do. It’s up to you whether youwant to continue this,’ she paused for a moment to find the right word. Affairseemed inappropriate as it implied at least some degree of feeling on the partof both sides. She settled for something more accurate.

‘Liaison. But, if we’re to continue, it’s best that Freddiedoesn’t get wind of things, don’t you think?’

‘I suspect you’re right, old girl. Mum’s the word,’ said Astonflashing a smile towards the bed.

Yes, thought Sandra again. He’s magnificent. A magnificentbastard. She didn’t bother looking at him as he left the room.

-

Aston walked along the narrow street thronged with turbans,tarbooshes, khaki caps and black berets. The half million population of Cairohad been supplemented with tens of thousands of British troops. The smellsfascinated Aston. He’d grown up with the smell of manure, having lived in thecountryside, and spent a considerable amount of time on horseback. The odour ofincense was an exotic addition which helped offset the less welcome smell ofexhaust fumes.

Much to his surprise, he loved Cairo. Quite apart from the fact itmeant he was away from the desert and the war, the colours, smells and theteeming humanity was unquestionably as intoxicating as it was different fromthe rarefied world from which he had come. He missed England terribly, butoddly, not when he was in Cairo. It seemed that the parts of England he adoredmost had moved there with him. If only he could obtain the transfer hedesperately sought, then life at war would prove to be a pleasantly divertingexperience.

A leisurely stroll followed by an equally leisurely breakfast meantit was much later that morning when he arrived at his destination. The signoutside read, The Gezira Sporting Club. Aston glanced up at the sandstone andrebrick façade. An Egyptian flag fluttered in the light breeze alongside theUnion Jack. With only the barest hint of acknowledgement to the Egyptiandoorman, Aston entered the sporting club and made his way to the bar. He alwaysfelt that his performance gained a little when he’d had a snifter or three prematch.

He met up with a number of fellow officers from his own team andthe opposition.

‘Great minds think alike, I see,’ said Aston upon arrival.

‘Cutting it a bit close old chap,’ said one lieutenant whose namehe could never quite remember. In the club, rank was forgotten along with thereason they were all there in the first place. Discussion on the war wasfrowned upon, particularly as things had been going rather badly.

‘Putting a filly through her paces,’ replied Aston, a smileflickering on the side of his mouth.

This brought roar from the assembled audience and he sensed themdrawing closer to hear more.

He took a sip from his gin and continues, ‘No longer a filly, iftruth be told.’ More laughter. Aston warmed to his theme, ‘Knew her way roundthe track, to be fair.’ The laughter built as he finished off his drink andnodded to the bar